Recently, the CDC dropped COVID vaccine recommendations for children and pregnant women, sparking renewed concerns and debates about the safety of COVID vaccines. Since the onset of the pandemic, there has been a minority that has openly criticised the mass administration of COVID vaccines, blaming them for various adverse effects and even deaths. Initially, when the pandemic caused widespread illness and mortality, vaccines seemed to be the only viable solution, and doctors strongly encouraged vaccination, except for children under 15 years, who were initially excluded.

Dr. Aseem Malhotra, a British cardiologist, has been outspoken about the potential risks of COVID vaccines. He believes the vaccines contribute to coronary artery diseases and even suggests they may have caused his father’s death. Many experts, however, see his views as misleading and extreme. One of his widely shared interviews with the BBC cited data from the British Heart Foundation, which indicated an excess of 30,000 deaths from heart disease since the arrival of COVID.

In another interview, Dr. Malhotra talked about American physician Dr. Steven Gundry, who reportedly found that within eight weeks of receiving two doses of mRNA vaccines (Pfizer or Moderna), middle-aged patients experienced an increased risk of coronary heart disease. Malhotra also mentioned a whistleblower from the University of Oxford who, based on imaging studies, claimed to have identified markers suggesting increased cardiovascular risk after vaccination.

Malhotra is particularly critical of mRNA vaccines, which he says based on his research, may carry cardiovascular risks.

To understand these claims, it helps to know how our immune system and vaccines function. When a virus infects the body, it injects its RNA (like a blueprint) into cells, which then produce more viruses. The immune system eventually learns to recognize and fight the virus by producing antibodies.

Vaccines work by training the immune system to recognize a virus before infection. Traditional vaccines often use weakened or inactive viruses to trigger immunity, which may cause mild symptoms. In contrast, mRNA vaccines are a new technology that teach your cells to make only a specific part of the virus — the spike protein on the COVID-19 virus.

The vaccine contains mRNA instructions that tell your cells how to make these spike proteins. Your immune system then recognises the spikes as foreign and mounts a response, creating memory cells that help protect you if exposed to the actual virus later. Importantly, mRNA vaccines do not contain live virus, cannot cause COVID-19, and do not alter your DNA. They are also faster to develop once the virus’s genetic sequence is known.

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The vast majority of doctors and researchers support COVID vaccines, citing strong evidence that they have significantly reduced severe illness, hospitalisations and deaths worldwide. However, some doctors like Dr. Malhotra and others, argue that potential risks, especially cardiovascular effects related to mRNA vaccines, need further investigation. They call for full transparency from health agencies and governments about ongoing vaccine safety data.

It is crucial to remember that no medical intervention is completely without risk. Vaccines, similar to any treatment, undergo rigorous testing before approval but rare side effects may emerge with widespread use. This makes continuous monitoring and research vital. Now as the pandemic evolves and new variants emerge, booster shots and vaccine formulations may also change. We cannot deny that mRNA COVID vaccines have saved countless lives, however, legitimate questions about rare side effects deserve thorough, unbiased investigation. Open dialogue and continued research will help make sure that vaccines remain both safe and effective.